Return of The Shadow and Doc Savage

If you’ve looked at the alt.pulp or alt.fan.doc-savage newsgroups or any of the pulp groups at Yahoo Groups recently then you’ve seen the reports about upcoming, authorized editions of The Shadow and Doc Savage by Nostalgia Ventures. This is terrific news!

I’ve just been reading a Doc Savage novel that was published by Bantam in 1971. The story originally had been published in 1938, 33 years before the paperback edition. Now here it is 35 years later and that paperback is older today than the pulp was when the paperback was first published. That’s what I’m reading, as probably are many of you. (Of course, there are unofficial BlackMask.com doubles floating around still, despite the Web site having been shut down.)

It’s going to be fantastic to have fresh editions of both characters available.

But what makes this really terrific news is not just that there will be new reprints out there, but who is involved. Finally, we’ve got someone who has a real understanding of the pulps – Anthony Tollin – in charge of the reprints.

The Shadow collector and historian Tollin co-wrote, with Walter Gibson, “The Shadow Scrapbook.”

You can find more info at these links:

• The Vintage Library: You’ll find a copy of the press release and cover at The Vintage Library.

• Coming Attractions: Bill Thom also has posted the press release and large images of the cover and interior artwork.

• The Shadow In Review: John Olsen has put together an informative Q&A regarding the reprint plans.

• Nostalgia Ventures*: Nostalgia Ventures will be the publishers of the new reprints. Watch their site for upcoming details.

Tollin, as well as others including Will Murray, have been working hard to get these reprints published. Now it’s our turn. We’ve got to show that there’s a market out there for pulp reprints, and that requires pulp fans to put their money where their mouth is.

I can’t wait.

– William

* Link no longer active.